Josh
Max's Outfit
Make It Snappy
Rockabilly meets Broadway on Make It Snappy (SwipeCat),
the energetic debut album from Josh Max's Outfit. This quartet
has hit upon a truly unique blend of guitar licks and operatic
vocals that send adrenaline coursing through your veins and makes
for instant entertainment.
Singer/songwriter/guitarist
Josh Max plays rock-and-roll riffs like nobody's business, while
the classically trained Julie James has a set of pipes that rival
Beverly Sills, Catherine Popper is also the sexiest gal you'll
ever see near a stand-up bass, and has mastered the instrument
as well as any of her contemporary male counterparts.
The
CD captures all the vibrancy of the band's no-frills, high-octane
live show, which has made Josh Max's Outfit a cult favorite in
New York. Ten of the 11 tracks on Make It Snappy were penned
by Max, the remaining cut being a playful cover of "Cuban
Pete," made famous by Desi Arnez. Max's guitar work is reminiscent
of Carl Perkins, while his whimsical lyrics mix country sensibility
with an urban edge, occasionally crossing into the sentimental.
Standouts include the too-short opener "Keep Your Paws Off
My Cat," the sultry "Mambo Dolly" and the maraca-shakin'
"Diva with a Fever," as well as "Silent Movie,"
a sweet and tender ballad that captures the simplicity of a time
when soda shops and drive-in theaters were a part of daily life.
The bonus track, "I Like a Whole Lot of Women," is a
live cut from the band's appearance on Peter Bochan's "All
Mixed Up" on WBAI-FM and lacks the fuller sound of a stage
performance, but still rounds on the album on a high note.
Visit
the band online at www.joshmaxsoutfit.com
Leslie
Rosenberg
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